Possible L5 Wes purchase advice

[Mark M.]

Posts like this make me miss my L5CES. I’m learning to just appreciate a fine L5 from afar. Wish me luck.

[2bornot2bop]

There's a decent buy for a blonde '07 Hutchins for $6999

2007 Gibson Custom Shop Wes Montgomery L-5 Archtop Natural -JAMES HUTC | Guitar Chimp

[Stringswinger]

There's a decent buy for a blonde '07 Hutchins for $6999

2007 Gibson Custom Shop Wes Montgomery L-5 Archtop Natural -JAMES HUTC | Guitar Chimp

I would pay the $7200 for the Blonde CES for sale in our "for sale" section before buying that one....

[deacon Mark]

I would pay the $7200 for the Blonde CES for sale in our "for sale" section before buying that one....

might ask why, because of the 2 pickups?

[L4CESN]

To anyone following this, I had a conversation with the owner of the wine red 2003 Wes, who assured me the tailpiece medallion was just tarnished, but he was reluctant to use any silver polish for fear of effecting the gold plating that surrounds it. He was firm on his price, which was a little more than I’d hoped it would be.

The second guitar, the 2010 Sunburst L5CES is from a store and presents as new. They offered it to me at a price that was the equivalent of $850USD more than the wine red Wes, and essentially half of the current listed retail price.

I’ve committed to buying it. Unfortunately, the city I live in has just gone into a Covid lockdown, and the store is in another city several hours away. They’ll hold it for me, and I’ll make a road trip to collect it once the lockdown lifts, hopefully in a month or so.

Thank you all for your help, especially 2B for the pics of your 2010 Wes, which totally sold me on the sunburst.

[Crm114]

2B is a total stand up guy

Big

[Stringswinger]

might ask why, because of the 2 pickups?

I own both a WESMO and a CES. The CES has way more tonal possibilities and they seem to sell for about $500 more than a WESMO in any color (which makes sense seeing as brand new, the CES sold for about $1,000 more than a WESMO in any color.)

Some might extoll the acoustic advantage of the WESMO, I say nonsense. Both are electric guitars and I have never played a WESMO that could hold a candle to a truly acoustic L-5.

Asking prices of Gibson archtops are through the roof these days, but I offer the following:

Wine red Gibsons sell for less than Sunburst and Natural examples.

Private party sellers generally get less than dealers for their guitars.

Guitars with significant issues are always discounted accordingly.

Asking prices on Reverb and EBay do not necessarily equate to actual selling prices.

[Crm114]

Truth

[voxsss]

Mouthwatering stuff..beautiful pics...i budgeted for a Peerless Monarch .. quite happy...

[2bornot2bop]

I would pay the $7200 for the Blonde CES for sale in our "for sale" section before buying that one....

Great, you would. But I wouldn’t. Reason being that there are CES models selling for less than the $8k asking price of that guitar, and many are mint.

[silverfoxx]

[QUOTE=Stringswinger;1130576]I own both a WESMO and a CES. The CES has way more tonal possibilities and they seem to sell for about $500 more than a WESMO in any color (which makes sense seeing as brand new, the CES sold for about $1,000 more than a WESMO in any colo

SS,
You and I discussed this very topic a few years ago. At the time I boasted both a Wesmo and an L5CES , I still concur that
the L5CES has better all round tonal possibilities. Not everyone agrees . To further complicate matters I have an L5CT
which I still prefer to a Wesmo, despite the shallower body depth, the difference to a L5CES is negligible.

.

[silverfoxx]

[QUOTE=L4CESN;1130543]To anyone following this, I had a conversation with the owner of the wine red 2003 Wes, who assured me the tailpiece medallion was just tarnished, but he was reluctant to use any silver polish for fear of effecting the gold plating that surrounds it. He was firm on his price, which was a little more than I’d hoped it would be.

The second guitar, the 2010 Sunburst L5CES is from a store and presents as new. They offered it to me at a price that was the equivalent of $850USD more than the wine red Wes, and essentially half of the current listed retail price.

L4CESN
You have made a wise choice, i am puzzled why the Wesmo seller would not clean up the medallion, i had a similar problem and the medallion cleaned
up well without tarnishing the Gold TP. The L5CES is a better buy IMO ,having had both myself and our friend Stringswinger also agrees if you read
his post here. Good luck with your NGD and we all look forward to pics when you acquire it

Best, SF

[Jabberwocky]

The 2010 L5CES ASB is a much better buy than the Wine Red L5 Wes Montgomery. ASB cost $500 more than Wine Red or Ebony. The extra bridge humbucker cost $500 more than the single pickup L5 Wes Montgomery. The L5CES ASB cost $1000 more than the L5 WM WR. For $850 more than the tarnished L5 WM Wine Red, it is a no brainer.